PRO FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL; Is This the Final Day for That Giants Stadium Chant?

By FRANK LITSKY,

Published: December 19, 1992

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 18—
If Ray Handley must go, as many Giants fans have been chanting at games, he will be making his last home appearance Saturday as the Giants' head coach. The disappointing Giants (5-9) will play the Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) at 12:30 P.M. in Giants Stadium.

The Giants have lost their last five games, and the Chiefs have won five of their last six. Kansas City is a good team that should probably be playing better. Still, the Chiefs are tied for their division lead and need one victory in their last two games to clinch a berth in the National Football League playoffs.

It will be a matchup of teams that like to run the ball, except that the Chiefs do it with king-sized backs. And they will try to do it against a Giants defense that has allowed a back to rush for 100 yards six times this year, four times in the last four weeks. In the three previous years, this defense yielded only five 100-yard games.

The Chiefs' tailbacks are 260-pound Christian Okoye, 245-pound Barry Word and 229-pound Harvey Williams. The Chiefs had hoped Williams would be their starter from the opening game, but he hurt a shoulder. Now he is healthy and playing more.

"They try to pound the ball," Handley said. "Then they look for big plays off the play-action game. They're not going to fool you. It will be a physical game. If they succeed early, they will stay with it. If they get ahead, they will pound you more. I think Marty Schottenheimer has been quoted as saying they have no need for imagination or creativity."

Schottenheimer, the Chiefs' coach, said that while the running game was his strong suit, "the last five or six weeks we haven't run well, so I wouldn't say we will be heavily weighted to the running game."

The Chiefs have suffered because of injuries to the offensive line. Because of that, they have started four players at right tackle alone. Their quarterback, Dave Krieg, is a streak passer.

"First," said Eric Dorsey, the Giants' defensive end, "we're going to have to get Krieg to pass and hope he has one of his off days. But if we let their running game get going, their play action will be unbelievable."

The Chiefs acquired Krieg this year as a Plan B free agent from the Seattle Seahawks. Until this year, the Chiefs used a controlled passing game. Now, with Krieg and faster receivers, they pass more down field. In addition, Krieg can spot mismatches quickly.

The Chiefs' defense began the season as a three-four. When it started the second half of the season after a bye week, it had become a four-three. That made the front stronger, although it changed the role of Derrick Thomas, the Chiefs' best player.

Like Lawrence Taylor of the Giants, Thomas was an outside linebacker who usually rushed the passer. When the Chiefs went to a four-three, he, like Taylor, became a pure pass rusher.

Now, in the defense used in passing situations, he plays defensive end and still rushes the passer, but in the normal four-three, he is involved more in pass coverage and run containment.

While Thomas's new deployment has reduced his effectiveness as a pass rusher, the defense has improved over all, partly because of Neil Smith, the strong-side defensive end. Smith has 13 1/2 sacks, Thomas 11 1/2. The Chiefs have 44 sacks over all, to the Giants' 20. The defense ranks first in the league against the pass, allowing 157.0 yards a game.

The Giants will have Jeff Hostetler back at quarterback after a three-week absence because of a concussion. Still, they face an uphill fight. Amid the uproar and uncertainty surrounding Handley, they must avoid distractions. 'A Lot at Stake'

"I don't see any difference in approaching this game to last year's last game against Houston," the coach said. "A team is coming in with a lot at stake. We have the home-field advantage. What they perceive as a pushover, they may be surprised."

A year ago, the Giants, with a 7-8 record, beat the playoff-bound Houston Oilers, 24-20. This time, the Giants have more on their minds.

"But you can't go into a game thinking your coach is going to be released," said wide receiver Stephen Baker. "You have to focus on the game." EXTRA POINTS

On Friday, the Giants activated MICHAEL WRIGHT, a rookie cornerback, from the practice squad. They were short of defensive backs because MARK COLLINS, a starting cornerback, will miss the game because of a rib injury. To make room for Wright, DAVE BROWN, a rookie quarterback, was placed on injured reserve with a broken thumb.